More horses seized from ranch west of Spokane

SPOKANE — Nearly a dozen starved horses are in critical condition Saturday after Spokane County animal protection officials seized several dozen horses from a ranch west of Spokane.

The horses were taken Friday from the same property in Airway Heights where about two dozen horses were seized last July.

The Spokesman-Review reported that the property owner, Janice Long, was charged in August with 21 counts of first-degree animal cruelty. Long, also known as Janice Hickerson, had stopped appearing to her court dates on those charges. There’s an active warrant for her arrest.

Veterinarian Doug Honken at Ponti Veterinary Hospital says the 11 animals in his care Saturday were malnourished and in some of the worst conditions he’s ever seen.

It is unclear how Long obtained the 63 horses, as well as two starving dogs and a cat, that were removed from the home Friday.

A listed number for Long was not available. It was unclear whether she had an attorney.